PARIS -- Spain's new king, Felipe VI, was proclaimed head of state in Parliament on Thursday, ushering in what royalists hope will be a new era of stability for the country's monarchy.
In a ceremony that was short on pomp and circumstance at a time of austerity, Felipe, 46, took over from his father, King Juan Carlos, 76. Juan Carlos, who abdicated earlier this month, took the throne in 1975, after the death of Gen. Francisco Franco.
Dressed in a military uniform, Felipe swore loyalty to Spain's constitution. Jesus Posada, president of the lower house of Parliament, then proclaimed him king. "Long live the King! Long live Spain!" he declared.
Felipe expressed his solidarity with the people of Spain, who are struggling to cope with a long-running economic crisis.
"We owe them a moral duty to work to reverse this situation for citizens and to provide protection to the most vulnerable families," he told Parliament.
While Juan Carlos was credited with playing a central role in consolidating Spain's return to democracy, in recent years the monarchy had been hit by a series of scandals, including the king's decision to go on an elephant-hunting trip in 2012 while the country suffered through the economic downturn.
"The crown must be close to the people, know how to win their respect and confidence" and "conduct itself with integrity, honesty, transparency," Felipe said in Parliament on Thursday. "Only in that way will it create the moral authority necessary to carry out its functions."
Saying he felt the suffering of those whose living standards were hurt by the economic crisis, Felipe urged Spaniards to shun resignation and unleash their ambitions. He said finding jobs for the unemployed was "a priority for society and the government."
In an oblique reference to separatist groups, Felipe insisted, "We all have our place in this diverse Spain." He ended his speech by saying "thank you" in three regional Spanish languages -- Catalan, Basque and Galician -- where independence movements are strongest.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Madrid as Felipe and Queen Letizia drove from parliament to the royal palace in an open-topped Rolls-Royce, waving to the crowds. The royal couple's daughters, Princesses Leonor, 8, and Sofia, 7, accompanied them for most of the day.
Royalty from Europe and foreign leaders were not invited to the parliamentary ceremony. Even Juan Carlos decided not to attend, leaving the spotlight to his son.
Also absent was Princess Cristina, Felipe's sister, who is ensnared in a corruption case that is focused on her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player who is accused of embezzling millions of dollars.
A reserved man who is considered remote by some Spaniards, Felipe has also shown a common touch.
In May, he celebrated his 10-year wedding anniversary with his wife over a meal of couscous at a cultural center in Madrid. His 2004 marriage to Letizia, a commoner and former journalist, in the face of resistance by conservative royalists was also greeted in Spain as an example of his independent streak.
Information for this article was contributed by Dan Bilefsky and Doreen Carvajal of The New York Times; by Ben Sills of Bloomberg News; and by Harold Heckle and Barry Hatton of The Associated Press.
A Section on 06/20/2014